Which process can separate linked genes?

Which process can separate linked genes?

• A. Mitosis
• B. Crossing over during meiosis
• C. Translation
• D. Replication

Answer: (B)

Linked genes on the same chromosome can be separated by genetic recombination that occurs during meiosis. In prophase I, homologous chromosomes pair and crossing over exchanges segments between them at chiasmata. This swap creates recombinant chromatids, so alleles for the linked genes can end up on different chromatids and in different gametes, effectively breaking the original linkage. Mitosis, on the other hand, separates sister chromatids without introducing new allele combinations between homologs, so linked genes tend to stay together. Replication merely copies the DNA, and translation is the process of building proteins from mRNA, neither of which rearranges linked genes.

Linked genes on the same chromosome can be separated by genetic recombination that occurs during meiosis. In prophase I, homologous chromosomes pair and crossing over exchanges segments between them at chiasmata. This swap creates recombinant chromatids, so alleles for the linked genes can end up on different chromatids and in different gametes, effectively breaking the original linkage.

Mitosis, on the other hand, separates sister chromatids without introducing new allele combinations between homologs, so linked genes tend to stay together. Replication merely copies the DNA, and translation is the process of building proteins from mRNA, neither of which rearranges linked genes.